Consumer Reports Asks Donation For Auto Survey

[Perian]

Source: Consumer Reports Mailing

The 2006 Consumer Reports annual automobile questionnaire arrived at my house yesterday.

Inside was a donation request!

It reads as follows:

"Sending the annual questionnaire to some 3,000,000 subscribers costs more than $ 700,000 for paper, printing and postage. We feel this annual event is an essential part of our tradition and part of what makes Consumer Reports unique.

It is also the single most expensive research effort in our reporting program. This year we are asking you to enclose a voluntary contribution of $ 6.75 or more to help cover the cost of the questionnaire.

Your donation will help us continue this valuable service."

[Perian]

I only have one question here...

Will GM's Lori Queen donate?

[goochman]

I thought the cost of the subscription covered all their 'special reports'

And value is in the eye of the beholder

[TaHoE]

Bwahahahahaha.... That's Great.

[VibenPontiac]

Two words - Get stuffed!!

And a question:
Do the auto manufacturers get a similar letter?

[tgagneguam]

Paying to participate in a survey!? That's pretty friggen weak, CR. Lame is another word that comes to mind.

[Aromanances]

I will contribute, a piece of cardboard and marker so they can beg $ on the side of the road from their happy readers right from their cars.

I hope this is a act of desperation, I sounds like one!

[69Firebird400]

I don't think this is terribly newsworthy. When I had the subscription to CR for a year that I received as a Christmas gift, they asked a few times for tax deductible donations. I sent in my auto survey but didn't bother with the donation.

The one good thing about CR is that they do not accept advertising, so there is at least an appearance that they are not beholden to any auto manufacturers or companies that sell other products or services that they review.

[RunningMan]

This is just a few days late to be a great April's Fool Day joke. Now its just a joke!

[CADILLACSIXTEEN]

Yeah, im sure with those great reviews, GM will get right on that.

[darndot]

I think the Mob calls is donations too.

[boblutzfan]

So if you donate a lot and drive a Honda or Toyota it gets you better reviews? That must be how this thing works.

It seems that if their business model worked - the subscription income would cover the costs for producing their reports. Can you imagine C&D, Motor Trend, R&T or Automobile asking for a donation towards the next big new car issue - to cover expenses? Give me a break. CR is an expensive subscription due to the lack of advertising. I just renewed my automobile mag subscription for three years for only $30.00. What does CR run now a year?

[Dizzer]

Payment to participate automatically destroys the results of a survey, as if that mattered to Consumer Reports.

[slaughter58]

I'm sure CR magazine's competition in Japan "JCR" is more efficient and profitable and doesn't require donations.

[2000GTPBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Perian

I only have one question here...

Will GM's Lori Queen donate?

Good question, and if she did could she submit it with her expenses?.

But she probably will not get the chnace. I recall a story from several years ago, where CR stated that it was their policy not to allow those in the industry to subscribe. Some big dust up with a dealership hit the news when CR cancelled their 20 subscriptions and returned their money.

$700,000 divided by $6.75 is around 103,000. Wonder if that is the number of returned surveys they get each year?